Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 20, 2022 11:59 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Brett R. Miller |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Native Vegetation Along Pennsylvania’s Highways |
| In the near future, I will re-introduce legislation (HB 763 from 2021-22) to direct the Department of Transportation to plant vegetation which has been identified by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as being native to Pennsylvania. Last session this bill passed unanimously out of the House Transportation Committee, the House and the Senate Transportation Committee, however, session ended prior to the bill achieving final passage in the Senate. Through the years non-native plants have been introduced throughout the state with some of them becoming noxious and invasive resulting in substantial disruption to the state’s ecosystem. Plants that are native to Pennsylvania are naturally part of the state eco-system and their use throughout the Commonwealth helps to maintain the environmental balance that has been developed over many years. These native plants, when planted along highways, will thrive because those plants are better adapted to local conditions. Further, native vegetation is also more likely to support wildlife, while discouraging invasive plant species. This legislation will require PennDOT to develop a list of native vegetation species that can be used in roadside work that is done throughout the state. The use of specific species in a given area will be based on the recommendations of the PA Department of Agriculture’s Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee. Co-sponsors from last session include: B. MILLER, SANCHEZ, STAMBAUGH, HILL-EVANS, HERRIN, JAMES, ZIMMERMAN, HERSHEY, MENTZER, KINKEAD, CIRESI, MILLARD, DRISCOLL, CONKLIN AND NEILSON. By requiring the use of native plants as part of the roadway work of PennDOT, we can help control invasive plants and promote the restoration of native vegetation throughout the state. I urge you to join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB797